Celebratory gunfire kills teen
kabul: Celebratory gunfire has killed a teenage boy in southern Afghanistan following the national cricket team's victory against Zimbabwe, a hospital official said. Thousands of jubilant fans danced in the streets and fired into the air in cities and towns across the country as Afghanistan defeated Zimbabwe to take the series 3-2 on Wednesday, pushing the team into the top 10 for one-day international rankings. A hospital official in Helmand's provincial capital lashkar Gah said yesterday that a teenager "believed to be around 17 or 18 was killed in the celebratory gunfire". Kabul police spokesman Abdul Basir Mujahid told AFP on Friday that at least three people had been wounded and that officials had arrested 35 people in connection with celebratory gunfire across the capital since the win.
Warrant against Dhoni
Anantpur: India's limited overs cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni found himself in a spot of bother on Friday after a Non Bailable Warrant was issued against him for failing to appear before a local court here in a case against him for hurting religious sentiments.
Dhoni, who is currently in Australia for an ODI and T20 series from January 12 to 31, has been asked to be present in the Court on February 25 for the hearing of the case filed by VHP activist Y Shyamsunder. The Indian ODI and Twenty20 captain has been accused of hurting religious sentiments by appearing as lord Vishnu on a magazine cover photograph which depicted him holding several things including a shoe. Dhoni has been accused of ignoring summons from the local court here, an allegation that the star cricketer's lawyer Rajneesh Chopra denied on Friday.
Steyn in squad for third Test
Johannesburg: South African fast bowler Dale Steyn is expected to be fit for the remaining two Tests of the series against England.
But Steyn will have to prove his fitness ahead of the third Test starting at the Wanderers Stadium next Thursday after failing to see out his two most recent Test appearances. He picked up a groin injury in the first Test against India in November and in the first Test against England in Durban last month he suffered a shoulder strain. South Africa, who trail the series 1-0, named an unchanged squad for the last two Tests, which means no place for specialist opening batsman Stephen Cook.
16 teams for U-19 WC
dubai: International Cricket Council o confirmed the participation of 16 teams in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup beginning later this month by announcing their respective squads.
The 11th edition of the tournament will be held across eight venues in four Bangladesh cities from January 27 to February 14, and will feature nine Test playing countries as well as seven Associate and Affiliate Members. The Associate and Affiliate Members are Afghanistan, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Namibia, Nepal and Scotland. The warm-up matches will be played from January 22-25, the ICC said in a statement. Australia had withdrawn from the U-19 World Cup due to concerns over security in Bangladesh and Ireland had taken their place.
‘Buttler can play 2016 IPl’
CAPE TOWN: England's wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler could be allowed to play in this year's Indian Premier league (IPl), national cricket team chief coach Trevor Bayliss has hinted. The 25-year-old lancashire batsman is presently the second choice in the Test team behind Jonny Bairstow. With England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) keen to give their
players more exposure to white ball cricket, Bayliss feels this could be a possibility.